Shadows & Forms
Culex pipiens
Culex pipiens is the common house mosquito—the one that tries to bite you at night and wakes you up with its dreadful buzzing. The typical behavioural pattern of this nocturnal pest is to come into our houses and attack us between sunset and sunrise. A single Culex pipiens, eager to get enough blood to lay its eggs, can ruin your night with multiple bites: the female of the species needs this blood meal to complete her biological cycle. Like those of other mosquito species, the larvae of Culex pipiens are aquatic and can develop anywhere water collects, in any kind of container, gutter or structure. Consequently, mosquitos are found everywhere. Moreover, they can inhabit either clean or polluted waters, even cesspools and poorly maintained sewers.
Curiously, in today’s media-saturated world, we are easily alarmed by the transmission of exotic viruses like Zika but have failed to notice that this mosquito and another of the same genus—Culex perexiguus—have been spreading West Nile virus in Andalusia and nearby regions since at least 2010. In Spain, West Nile virus has been affecting horses since at least 2010 and cases in humans were reported in 2010 and in 2016. Continuous outbreaks throughout Europe—in countries such as Greece, Romania and Italy—have claimed dozens of lives.
In various parts of the world, Culex species have been responsible for spreading encephalitis, including the Saint Louis and Japanese variants (the latter causes more than 50,000 cases and 10,000 deaths each year). These mosquitos are also responsible for the spread of West Nile virus, which has affected more than 40,000 people in the United States since it first reached the country in 1999. The common house mosquito also spreads filarial worms—including Dirofilaria immitis, which affects dogs—and several Plasmodium species that cause avian malaria.
Culex pipiens is a very adaptive species. Some of its ecological forms prefer to feed on birds at northern latitudes but are more likely to bite humans at latitudes farther south. The mosquito’s appetite can also vary depending on where the larvae develop. For example, mosquitos that mature in an underground environment where organic matter is present will be more likely to feed on humans than on birds. Because of this plasticity, the common house mosquito can act as a bridge vector, spreading viruses between different animal species—including humans.
Culex pipiens
Culex pipiens is the common house mosquito—the one that tries to bite you at night and wakes you up with its dreadful buzzing. The typical behavioural pattern of this nocturnal pest is to come into our houses and attack us between sunset and sunrise. A single Culex pipiens, eager to get enough blood to lay its eggs, can ruin your night with multiple bites: the female of the species needs this blood meal to complete her biological cycle. Like those of other mosquito species, the larvae of Culex pipiens are aquatic and can develop anywhere water collects, in any kind of container, gutter or structure. Consequently, mosquitos are found everywhere. Moreover, they can inhabit either clean or polluted waters, even cesspools and poorly maintained sewers.
Curiously, in today’s media-saturated world, we are easily alarmed by the transmission of exotic viruses like Zika but have failed to notice that this mosquito and another of the same genus—Culex perexiguus—have been spreading West Nile virus in Andalusia and nearby regions since at least 2010. In Spain, West Nile virus has been affecting horses since at least 2010 and cases in humans were reported in 2010 and in 2016. Continuous outbreaks throughout Europe—in countries such as Greece, Romania and Italy—have claimed dozens of lives.
In various parts of the world, Culex species have been responsible for spreading encephalitis, including the Saint Louis and Japanese variants (the latter causes more than 50,000 cases and 10,000 deaths each year). These mosquitos are also responsible for the spread of West Nile virus, which has affected more than 40,000 people in the United States since it first reached the country in 1999. The common house mosquito also spreads filarial worms—including Dirofilaria immitis, which affects dogs—and several Plasmodium species that cause avian malaria.
Culex pipiens is a very adaptive species. Some of its ecological forms prefer to feed on birds at northern latitudes but are more likely to bite humans at latitudes farther south. The mosquito’s appetite can also vary depending on where the larvae develop. For example, mosquitos that mature in an underground environment where organic matter is present will be more likely to feed on humans than on birds. Because of this plasticity, the common house mosquito can act as a bridge vector, spreading viruses between different animal species—including humans.